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How We Organize for Crime & Emergency Situations

Good community organization is an important element of coping with crime, disasters and emergency situations. In the event of a major occurrence it is likely that an official response and/or support will not be available for a number of days.

We need to be prepared, not only in our own homes, but across the community.

Be Vigilant

Know Your Block Captain!

One of the best deterrence to neighborhood crime is a community of neighbors who look out for one another. Block captains are essential to keeping neighbors well informed, and vital to the success of the Neighborhood Watch program.

Several blocks have this role shared by two individuals, so neighbors have two co-captains to work with.

Block captains are organized and belong to one of two WSSM zones each with its own coordinator:

Block Captain Duties

  • Organize/arrange an annual block meeting, block party, or Neighborhood Watch meetings as needed.
  • Compile and maintain a list of residents on your block and share the list among them.
  • Serve as a liaison between your block and WSSM as well as with LAPD.
  • Welcome new neighbors with a WSSM welcome package.
  • Help support emergency response in the event of a disaster.
  • WSSM organizes a block captain training every 18-24 months. Block captains are provided with all needed forms and info.

Be a Block Captain!

Being a block captain can be a very rewarding experience. As block captain you will:
  • meet neighbors you might not have known otherwise
  • serving the important functions of keeping people informed about crime and community safety issues, and how they can secure their homes
  • foster a sense of community.
Your “job” as block captain can be as basic or as involved as you have time for!
If you are interested in being a block captain, have not heard from your block captain, or have any questions, contact Pat Tobias or Dee Maddock.

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch activities are meant to ensure that neighbors recognize one another and know when something out of the ordinary is occurring on their block. Neighborhood Watch fosters a sense of looking out for another.

We encourage neighbors to:

  • Report unusual or suspicious behavior to LAPD immediately (recording descriptions of individuals and license plates of any vehicles involved
  • Report any crimes (large or small) to LAPD- Butler Station
  • Inform a trusted neighbor if their home will be unoccupied for an extended period. (It is important to leave a way of contacting the neighbor should an emergency arise.)
  • Look after their neighbor’s house when they are away and ask them to reciprocate. This includes collecting mail, newspapers and other deliveries that would indicate that no one is home.
  • Ask a neighbor who is home during the day to receive or look out for package deliveries.
  • Attend any block meetings/neighborhood watch meetings and the WSSM annual meeting.
  • Above all, be concerned and be watchful as these are the most effective ways to prevent and reduce crime and make our neighborhood safe.

For a Neighborhood Watch on your block contact our Block Captain Committee.

The LAPD has additional helpful information and advice on how to run a successful Neighborhood Watch program.

Disaster Preparedness

Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN)

Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN) helps your family and your neighborhood prepare for disasters. RYLAN gives you the steps to take immediately after a disaster to help keep you and your family safe. It provides the tools to prepare and organize your neighborhood to respond together in that first hour after a disaster to reduce injuries, protect your property and the environment, and most importantly, to save lives.

RYLAN can help with a neighborhood response plan, training, alerts and neighborhood communication techniques.

Notify LA

Sign up for the city’s emergency notification program, Notify LA. When disasters occur, the City will alert you with specific instructions on what to do. Text READY to 888-777 to sign up.

County Emergency Survival Guide

LA County makes available a comprehensive (100-page) emergency survival guide.

 Download an emergency survival guide to keep on hand.

CERT

CERT (Community Response Emergency Team) teaches and empowers us — ordinary citizens — to safely and effectively respond to a disaster or a major emergency. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

Basic disaster response skills covered in CERT include:

  • Fire safety,
  • Light search and rescue
  • Team organization and disaster medical operations
  • How to prepare for emergencies
  • What supplies you should NOW have in your house
  • How much food and water to have on hand

CERT members receive 17 1/2 hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial training. Training is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles.

 See the schedule of CERT classes.

Current Crime Map & Crime Statistics

For recent crime statistics, trends, and news in the Westwood South area, see our Crime & Safety posts.

CrimeMapping.com works with law enforcement agencies throughout North America to provide the public with  information about recent crime activity in their neighborhood, and to assist police departments in reducing crime through a better-informed citizenry.

You can easily access a crime map of our area (please note the crime markers you see below are not current.):

And Remember

When to Call 911

• When there is a life or death emergency that requires the immediate response of emergency services, such as police, fire or paramedic

• When there is a medical problem or something that requires the Los Angeles Fire Department to respond

• When there is a violent crime in progress

When NOT to Call 911

• For non-emergency police response, use 877-ASK-LAPD.